Monday, June 25, 2007

Endangered Species

Adopt a species
Dear Boss,
This is Delicia Arnic and I wanted to inform you about the endangered species of the Copperbelly snake.
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Craniata
Class- Reptilia
Order- Squamata
Family- Colubridae
Genus- Nerodia
Snakes reproduce both by laying eggs and have living eggs hatch inside their bodies. Once the kids are born the parent snakes n longer takes care of them. They survive on their own. Snakes reproduce externally like most other animals.
We could show eating commercials about snakes. We should raise snakes so we could cook them and sell in restaurants. I mean lets think about this, we sell alligator, body parts of pigs, cows, ox’s, why not eat snake. Some animals are becoming endangered so we will need something to start eating, if you were hunting or camping then you would cook the animals in the land. People can not say they do not like it until they tried it because we eat all sorts of animals and snakes are just another one for us to eat.
I need to find out more research about Copperbelly snakes. Maybe if I traveled to southeaster Illinois, western Tennessee, or northwestern Kentucky to do some studies and bring back some research then we would be better off with selling products of copper bellies. On the internet there is not much information because they are endangered and they hide in areas.
With the Copperbelly snake there is no way that a new species could occur because they only mate within themselves. They do not get along with other snakes so they live, travel, reproduce with themselves and snakes like them. They can not be with their children because they are alone and calm until a prey comes or if they are in danger.
I do not think we should proceed with this commercial for eating the snakes because what happens if people do not want to eat the snake we will be out of business. We could try this process later on in life but it should not take place right now.





http://www.caringtogether.com/exotics/snakes2.html
http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/index.htm
http://www.ask.com/web?o=0&qsrc=6&l=dir&q=How+Do+Snakes+Reproduce
http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/snakes/Copperbelly_water_snake/CopperbellyFactSheet.pdfv

Monday, June 11, 2007

Copperbelly Snake



Adopt-a-speciesSnake, copperbelly water IN north of 400 N. Lat., MI, OHScientific name Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta Threatened.


I’m Delicia, and I am going to introduce you to the Copperbelly Water Snake also know as Nerodia Erythrogaster Neglecta. For those of you who do not know about snakes then their is certainly a lot to learn because this is only one of many snakes. For the people who like snakes and like to learn about them and their interesting facts then I am sure there is something in here for you to learn.


Adult copperbellies are
uniformly dark brown to
black on their dorsal
surface, and have an
orange, red, or perhaps
even yellowish belly, the
color of which extends up
onto the chin. The dark
dorsal may appear as ‘fingerlike’
projections of color
‘bleeding’ down from the
lateral scales. In some cases,
the dark coloration can
heavily invade the belly
color as dark bands. Copperbellies can be quite large, the adults can grow to lengths of 40-50 inches.



Copperbelly’s should be of shallow slope, so that as the wetland dries, areas of less
than 30 cm (about 12 inches) in depth are extensive. These shallow areas provide them of good habitat. When wetlands get deeper, they wait one to three years for it to dry up.
Unlike many
other water snakes, copperbellies may
travel hundreds of meters away from
wetlands. Uplands are used for a
variety of reasons, for example for travel,
shedding, birthing, digestion, refuge
during stressful weather (hot and cold),
and other times when the snakes may be more vulnerable in wetlands.



Copperbellies typically forage in
extremely shallow water, in the order
of 5-10cm, or even less. While they may
rest and bask on logs and shrubs in areas
with deeper water, they do not utilize
deep, open water except as a travel lane. copperbellies will
rest on logs and low branches, often just
a few cm above the water. They will also
use shorelines and levees. If surprised or
disturbed, they will slide into the water to
escape.



From the south, the range of the copperbelly begins in southeastern Illinois, western
Tennessee, and northwestern Kentucky. In these areas, the copperbelly often co-occurs
with the yellowbelly. Most copperbelly populations, and most of the individuals, occur
within southernmost portion of the snake’s range. In southern Ind iana, populations occur
along the floodplains of all of the southwestern streams. As these flood zones narrow,
copperbellies disappear.
The copperbelly is listed as Endangered by the states of Indiana, Michigan, and
Ohio, and conferred special legal protection in Illinois and Kentucky. The
copperbelly is also listed as Threatened at the Federal level by the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) above the 40 Parallel.



http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/SpeciesReport.do?groups=C&listingType=L&mapstatus=
http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/accounts/reptiles/snakes/Copperbelly_water_snake/CopperbellyFactSheet.pdf